Friday, May 6 2005 17:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Ministry of Railways has constituted a High Level Committee to review the Disaster Management System, Minister of State for Railways R Velu informed the Rajya Sabha today (May 6, 2005).

In a written reply, he said that the Committee had made 111 recommendations out of which 61 have been implemented on all Zonal Railways so far while the remaining 50 were under various stages of implementation.

Shatabdi Express : The Minister said that increase in the speed of Shatabdi Express on the New Delhi-Agra line has not been put on hold. The Ministry is contemplating to increase maximum speed of Shatabdi Express on the sector to 150 kms and the track and signalling system, available on this section is adequate to run such a train, Velu said.

He said that the Chief Commissioner Railway Safety (CCRS) has not, so far, cleared running of this train.

Passenger: As an incentive to passengers travelling in first AC, 2nd AC and AC chair car classes, Frequent Rail Travellers Scheme is being launched by the Railways, which will be available throughout the year with differential benefits during peak and non-peak seasons, he said.

Godhra: U.C Banerjee Committee in its interim report has revealed that the Godhra train fire was accidental.

The Committee concluded that the fire originated in the coach without any external input and ascribed it to be an accidental fire, which engulfed the coir, the foam and latex on the berths coupled with the luggage of passengers, Velu said.